Got a great deal on these socks, but they had more noticeable blemishes than I generally expect even on something clearly sold as 2nds. On a few socks, the stitching by the heel was irregular enough that I'm worried about it reducing the longevity. They are all stamped "IRREGULARS" in large font on the sides, rather than the typical mark that appears only on the price tag.

Reviewed by KansasDoc from Prairie Village, Kansas on Saturday, May 9, 2015

I only wear smart wool socks. I have purchased from Sierra Trading post over the years. I have recieved numerous pairs. I try to buy 10 pair at a time. My most recent purchase was awful. 1/2 of the "seconds" had dime sized holes which meant they are worthless. So for what I paid I got 5 pairs of socks. I will not buy seconds from Sierra Trading Post.

Verified Buyer
Reviewed by Dennis in MA from Massachusetts on Thursday, April 9, 2015

I'm not sure why they feel rough and plastics, but they do. For a few pennies more, you can get th softer non-2nd ones from STP. The construction and fit is pure Smartwool. They feel ok, but aren't as nice as the firsts.

Answer
They are unused. Seconds are items that have minor cosmetic blemishes or irregulars which do not affect the fit, performance, or longevity of the item. Label is usually clipped by the manufacturer. A small flaw means big savings.